Explore every episode of the podcast First Edition

An audio version of a post I wrote for Book Riot recently, The 10 Most Interesting Questions in the World of Books and Reading. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is from our old podcast series Annotated, and it seemed fitting to bring it out of the archive this election season. In this episode: A woman with no prior political experience decides to run for city commission in her small college town. So she goes to the library and checks out a book called How to Win a Local Election. And she wins. This is her story and the story of the book that helped her win. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Snell of sixcolors.com, and ereader connoisseur, joins Jeff to talk about the state of ereaders, what makes a good ereader, a couple of interesting, oddball new devices, and more. Check out sixcolors.com and The Incomparable. Want to make your book club the best club? Sign up for our In the Club newsletter. In the Club will deliver recommendations for the best books to discuss in your book clubs. From buzzy new releases to brilliant throwbacks, the books highlighted in this newsletter will drive your book club discussions. We’ll also share some book club-friendly recipes and interesting bookish updates from all over. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features. In other words, we’ll keep you well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Sign up today! Discussed in this episode: Two e-readers that made me reconsider why I use e-readers by Jason Snell Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joshua Bodwell of Godine & Black Sparrow Press talks to Jeff about a book they both love, The Orchard by Adele Crockett Robertson, and the process of reissuing it as part of Godine's Nonpareil series. It's happening, readers — we're bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you're on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we've got three different levels for gifting to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co. Discussed in this episode: The Orchard by Adele Crockett Robertson Godine's Nonpareil Series Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca sit down to determine the It Books of the Year. From 24 finalists, they will whittle down to twelve. The last cut is the deepest. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. It's happening, readers — we're bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you're on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we've got three different levels for gifting to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. The It Books of the Year Finalists The Woman in Me by Britney Spears The Guest by Emma Cline Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Prophet Song by Paul Lynch The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters The Wager by David Grann Doppelganger by Naomi Klein Spare by Prince Harry Big Fiction by Dan Sinykin Lone Women by Victor LaValle The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Heaven & Earth Grocery Story by James McBride Poverty by Matthew Desmond The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Yellowface by R. F. Kuang Blackouts by Justin Torres Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Fraud by Zadie Smith The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward Pageboy by Elliot Page The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I talk to Prof. Courtney Thorsson about her new book, The Sisterhood: How a Network of Black Women Writers Changed American Culture. Over the course of two years, a group of remarkable black women writers met to discuss their work, connect with each other, and ultimately influence the next decades of American cultural life. The Sisterhood documents the meetings of the group, their motivations for gathering, and the wider intellectual and artistic world they helped create. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the last big month for new releases, so Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinsky saddle up for one more It Book Knockout Round for 2023. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. It's happening, readers — we're bringing paperbacks! Whether you hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you're on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. You can also gift it (and the holidays, they are coming). Get all the details at mytbr.co. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books mentioned in this episode: The Future by Noami Alderman Class by Stephanie Land Breaking Twitter by Ben Mezrich The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose Day by Michael Cunningham Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand The Liberators by E.J. Koh To Free the Captives by Tracy K. Smith Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros Email in with questions, comments, and ideas: firstedition@bookriot.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Prof. Dan Sinykin about his new book, Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed Book Publishing and American Literature. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Email in with questions, comments, and ideas: firstedition@bookriot.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for the October "It Book" Knockout Round! Plus, a special mini-roundup of notable celebrity memoirs coming out this fall. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Autumn is here, which means it's time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it's romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. Visit mytbr.co to find out more and sign up — it only takes a few minutes! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem Going Infinite by Michael Lewis Hidden Potential by Adam Grant Blackouts by Justin Torres Family Meal by Bryan Washington A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen Extremely Online by Taylor Lorenz Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri America Fantastica by Tim O'Brien Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith Being Henry by Henry Winkler My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand Making It So by Patrick Stewart The Woman in Me by Britney Spears Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros has taken the book world by storm. It is the first book (!) out from the new imprint Red Tower, and on today's episode, Molly Majumder (Editorial Director) and Stacy Abrams (V-P of Operations) talk to me about how it came to be, what it was like to be a part of the book's amazing success, and what they've learned. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Book Riot's editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Red Tower Books Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Rebecca Schinsky helps me decide on the "it" book of the month after much consternation. Then, Professor Jenni Nuttall comes on to discuss her new book, Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Words. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Book Riot's editorial team is writing for casual and power readers alike over at The Deep Dive! During the month of September, all new free subscribers will be entered to win Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, plus 5 mystery books from The Deep Dive. To enter, simply start a free subscription to The Deep Dive. No payment method required! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Holly by Stephen King How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair The Pole by J.M. Coetzee The Devil Makes Three by Ben Fountain The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgaard Doppelganger by Naomi Klein The Book of (More Delights) by Ross Gay The Fraud by Zadie Smith The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women's Word by Jenni Nuttall Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the occasion of his new book, The Art of Libromancy: Selling Books and Reading Books in the 21st Century, Josh Cook of Porter Square books joins Jeff for a conversation about modern indie bookselling. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Wanna escape the Dog Days of summer with purrfect book recommendations? Let Tailored Book Recommendations pick awesome books to keep you entertained. Touch grass, grab some lemonade, and enjoy TBR's picks. Discussed in this episode: Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While I am out on vacation, I am bringing something out from the vault. I have done a couple of "Reading Life" episodes here on First Edition with Adam Limon and James McBride, and that format got started as its own, sadly ended, podcast series: Reading Lives. While I was doing that show, I got a bunch of requests for my own episode, which I tried recording as a solo act. So here is that episode, about my own life as a reader. Back with new episodes starting at the end of August. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, my colleagues Jenn Northington and Sharifah Williams talk to me about what it is like to make an anthology, specifically their new co-edited anthology, Fit for the Gods: Greek Mythology Reimagined. Then, Professor Karim Farah-Cooper joins me to talk about reading Shakespeare through in the context of race. Her new book is called The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode Fit For the Gods: Greek Mythology Reimagined, edited by Jenn Northington and S. Zainab Williams The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking About Race by Prof. Farah Karim-Cooper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the occasion of the publication of his new novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, James McBride comes on to talk about his life as a reader, what books can do, and what writing means to him. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Beverly Cleary The Autobiography of Malcolm X The Power Broker by Robert Caro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Schinsky is back to help Jeff pick the "it" book for August 2023. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Email First Edition at firstedition@bookriot.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Anansi's Gold by Yepoka Yeebo Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo Half-Life of a Stolen Sister by Rachel Cantor The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue Pulling the Chariot of the Sun by Shane McCrae The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liberty Hardy helps Jeff workshop some ideas for talking to authors because interviewing authors is hard. Or at least Jeff thinks so. Discussed in this episode: Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! The All The Books! Podcast The New Books! Newsletter What's My Page Again? (Liberty's Patreon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Jeff consider ten finalists for the "It Book" of July and pick a winner. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo Prom Mom by Laura Lippman Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Strip Tees by Kate Flannery Star Bringer by Craft and Wolf Goodbye, Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt Vanishing Maps by Cristina Garcia The Light Room by Kate Zambreno  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kendra Winchester comes on to commemorate the 15th anniversary of two events that heralded the modern audiobook boom: Amazon buying Audible and Apple allowing third-party apps on the iPhone. Then, Sharifah Williams, Book Riot's Director of Content and co-host of our SFF Yeah! podcast, joins me to debut a new segment: The Insta-Buys. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Better Than Nothing? Exploring the Limitations of AI-Narrated Audiobooks from a Disabled Person’s Perspective 10 Audiobook Narrators You Need to Follow on TikTok The Untold History of the Talking Book by Matthew Rubery Check out Kendra's podcast, Read Appalachia. You can also follow her on Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester. Sharifah Williams co-hosts our SFF Yeah! podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Schinsky is back to help Jeff pick the "it" book of June, and S.A. Cosby, author of the forthcoming All the Sinners Bleed, tells a reading story. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! I Am Homeless If This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore The 272 by Rachel Swarns All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand Be Mine by Richard Ford The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende Pageboy by Eliot Page Watch Us Dance by Leila Slimani Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini joins Book Riot CEO Jeff O’Neal to talk about the creation, publication, and long-life of the literary phenomenon. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Schinsky is back to help Jeff figure out what the It book of May will be. And Book Riot editor Erica Ezeifedi comes on to debut a new First Edition segment, Reading Stories. Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this Episode: The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Ajdei-Brenyah The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Traffic by Ben Smith The Ferryman by Justin Cronin Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Sing Her Down by Ivy Pachoda Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Book Riot editors Vanessa Diaz and Kelly Jensen come on to talk about the long legacy of Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret in anticipation of the big new adaptation. Then Jeff talks to Professor Sarah Hart, author of the new book Once Upon a Prime, about the confluence of mathematics and literature. And finally, Professor Erica Williams on Nella Larsen, on the occasion of the new collection of her work: The Complete Fiction of Nella Larsen. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Relevant links! Are Your There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Bloom Once Upon a Prime by Sarah Hart The Complete Fiction of Nella Larsen Check out First Edition on Twitter, on Substack, and on Instagram. And if you have a moment to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, please and thank you! And please do email me with feedback here: firstedition@bookriot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff is joined by Brenna Connor, Director & Industry Analyst for U.S. books sales for Circana. She has the goods: what is selling, what is trending, how retailers are doing, and much more. I learned a TON, and I bet you will too. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this kick-off episode, Jeff O’Neal plays a game to determine the “it” book of April with Rebecca Schinksy, talks about what it means to put a book into the world with Simon & Schuster Senior Editor Yahdon Israel, and considers humanism with Sarah Bakewell, on the occasion of the publication of her new book, Humanly Possible. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: It Book Knock-Out Contenders Wonder Boy by Angel Au-Yeung and David Jeans Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane The Wager by David Grann Happy Place by Emily Henry In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung House of Cotton by Monica Brashears Yahdon Israel’s Advance Readers Club Soil by Camille T Dungy Humanly Possible by Sarah Bakewell First Edition on Instagram First Edition on Twitter First Edition on Substack And please do email me with feedback here: firstedition@bookriot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Announcing FIRST EDITION: BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Interviews, lists, rankings, retrospectives, recommendations, and much more, featuring people who know and love books. Follow on Instagram @FirstEdPod and Twitter @FirstEdPod. And also sign up for the free companion newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of First Edition, the reading life of U.S. National Poet Laureate Ada Limón. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World, edited by Ada Limón In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limón, illustrated by Peter Sis. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff O'Neal talks with Ayana Mathis about her latest book, The Unsettled. The Unsettled was a 2023 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and a Best Book of the Year selection by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Oprah Daily, and others. The Unsettled is now available in paperback. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis Email in with questions, comments, and ideas: firstedition@bookriot.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jeff talks with Claire Messud about her new novel, This Strange, Eventful History. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jeff talks with Rachel Khong about her new novel, Real Americans. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 years ago, Sandra Cisneros published what would become a contemporary classic: The House on Mango Street. To mark the occasion, Everyman's Library has released a new edition. The introduction to that edition was written by Professor John Philip Santos, a fellow writer and long-time friend of Cisneros. He joins me on this episode to talk about the origin, meaning, and legacy of this modern masterpiece. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: The House on Mango Street (Everyman's Library) by Sandra Cisneros, introduction by John Philip Santos Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation by John Philip Santos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Xochitl Gonzalez, author of Anita de Monte Laughs Last, joins Jeff to debut two new First Edition segments: Anatomy of a Scene and Hardest/Easiest. In the first segment, they each pick a scene to dissect from Anita de Monte Laughs Last. In the second, Gonzalez talks about what part of the book was the easiest to write....and which was the hardest. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Want to make your book club the best club? Sign up for our In the Club newsletter. In the Club will deliver recommendations for the best books to discuss in your book clubs. From buzzy new releases to brilliant throwbacks, the books highlighted in this newsletter will drive your book club discussions. We’ll also share some book club-friendly recipes and interesting bookish updates from all over. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features. In other words, we’ll keep you well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Sign up today! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Anita de Monte Laughs Last The First Edition Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Riot editor Danika Ellis joins Jeff to talk about how she tracks bestsellers for Book Riot, how growing up online was sort of great, and what we see (or don't) when we read. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: The Best-Selling Books of the Week The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week Books Aren't Mental Movies: You're Missing the Best Part of Reading I'm Glad I Grew Up Online Aphantasia Self-Test Everything2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Riot's Sharifah Williams joins Jeff to talk about her piece, "The Books Won't Save Us." Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: The Books Won't Save Us by Sharifah Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A couple of segments here ported over from The Book Riot Podcast. First, Brooke Nagler tells us what it's like to break into the world of literary agenting. Then, Franklin Leonard and Randy Winston talk about their project, The Black List. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: The Book Group The Black List Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bookshop.org Founder Andy Hunter joins Jeff to talk about Bookshop now offering ebooks. Then, Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, comes on to talk about her bookish reading challenge: read for 25 in '25. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Bookshop.org Now Sells Ebooks Gretchen Rubin's 25 in '25 Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff uses Susie Dumond's piece for Book Riot about 2025 predictions as a framework for taking stock of where we are and what the year may hold for publishing and reading. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Book Trend Predictions for 2025 Bed and Break-Up by Susie Dumond Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Nnedi Okorafor about her life as a reader. Her new book, Death of the Author, is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff is joined by Adam Vitcavage of Debutiful to talk about covering debuts, new authors, and all that entails. Discussed in this episode: Debutiful (website) Debutiful (podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was my favorite 2024 episode of First Edition, so I thought I'd repost it for you this holiday week. Join me to explore the reading life of U.S. National Poet Laureate Ada Limón. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World, edited by Ada Limón In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limón, illustrated by Peter Sis. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scaachi Koul joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Sucker Punch with a new little format for First Edition called "10 Notecards With..." Jeff has picked out 10 things from the new book — words, ideas, stories, etc. — written them on notecards, and then has Saachi pick them at random (at least at the start order). Turned out to be a lot of fun, so expect to hear more of these. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in This Episode: The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on March 13th Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liberty Hardy joins Jeff to talk about hosting 500 episodes of All The Books! and a host of other reading-related topics. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. Discussed in this episode: All The Books! Liberty Hardy on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Romney joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Jane Austen's Bookshelf. They talk about personal book collecting, rediscovering literary history for yourself, a few of the writers Austen admired, and more. Jane Austen's Bookshelf is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney Rebecca Romney on Instagram The Honey & Wax Book Collecting Contest Type Punch Matrix (Romney's Rare Book Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Chihaya joins Jeff to talk about her new memoir, Bibliophobia. They talk life-ruining books, the enormous weight of all the books that are out there and how we cannot read them all, and other less-talked about parts of the reading life. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Professor Shigehiro Oishi about his new book, Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life. Books and reading play a central role in the book, both as examples but also as avenues towards living a psychologically rich life. I really enjoyed this book and this conversation. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Warner joins Jeff to talk about his new book, More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI. We talk about the teaching of writing, what we might want to save for humans, what kinds of things LLMs expose about how we think about writing, and what the present and future of living with AI could be. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: More Than Words by John Warner The Biblioracle Recommends Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Emma Pattee about her debut novel, Tilt. They talk earthquakes, IKEA, the consequences of writing place precisely, and much more. This book is a winner, folks. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff is joined by Jack Lohmann, author of the new book White Light: The Elemental Role of Phosphorus-in Our Cells, in Our Food, and in Our World. Plus, his editor at Pantheon, Todd Portnowitz joins the conversation to talk about positioning, crafting, and otherwise publishing non-fiction like this. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff talks to Stephen Graham Jones about his reading life. Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of thirty-five or so novels and collections, and there are some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are Earthdivers and I Was a Teenage Slasher. His new book, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alissa Wilkinson joins Jeff to talk about her new book, We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Discussed in this episode: We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine by Alissa Wilkinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices